Skidmore College/Spring 2003
International Affairs 101
MW 6:30-7:50pm in Ladd 307
| Christopher
Whann, Ph.D Tel: (518) 580-5453 |
Mary-Beth
O'Brien, Ph.D. Tel: (518) 580-5216 |
| Class Schedule | Homework |
Wednesday, Jan. 22
What is International Affairs?
Introduction to the Course
Questionnaire and Personal Introductions
Read the Melian Dialogue, (Thucydides Book 5, ch. 84-113)
Study Questions on the Melian Dialogue
Read Mingst, Chapter 3, pp. 57-82
Part One: The Political World
Monday, Jan. 27
Theoretical Approaches to International Relations
Melian Dialogue: plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose
International Inventory
Key Concepts for International Politics
Read Mingst, Chapter 2, pp. 17-36
Wednesday, Jan. 29
The Political World: Antiquity to the End of World War I
Visiting Professors Mao Chen and Joe Hodge join co-instructors Professors Christopher Whann and Mary-Beth O'Brien for a panel discussion
Read Mingst, Chapter 2, pp. 36-56.
Monday, Feb. 3
The Political World
Read Mingst, Chapter 6, pp. 131-151.
Wednesday, Feb. 5
The Balance of Power in Europe
Europe and its Colonies: The Winds of Change
Read Mingst, Chapter 5, pp. 100-131.
Monday, Feb. 10
Read Mingst, Chapter 4, pp. 83-99.
Mapping Exercise #1 is due on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Wednesday, Feb. 12
The Individual Role in International Relations
The State and the International System
Mapping Exercise # 1 due
Read in O'Meara, part 4, pp. 123-158.
Monday, Feb. 17
Student Debate # 1: Does Interstate War address the Question on Non-State Actors? Conventional War versus the War on Terrorism.
Study for Quiz # 1 on Monday.
Part Two: The Economic World
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Quiz # 1: The Political World (ca. 30 Minutes)
Introduction to the Global Economy
Key Concepts for International Economy and Business
Read Mingst, Chapter 8, pp. 182-216. Read in O'Meara "Electronic Cash and the End of National Markets," pp. 300-309 and "New Rules: The American Economy in the Next Century," pp. 244-252.
Monday, Feb. 24
Class canceled due to snow storm
Read in O'Meara " International Economics: Unlocking the Mysteries of Globalization," pp. 217-227.
Visit the web sites for:
Writing assignment: How do these organizations describe their functions and goals? How many members does each organization have and from what regions of the world are they? Where are these members in terms of development < and industrialization? Limit your answers to 500 words.
Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Investment with Guest Lecturer: Professor Gary McClure
Read in O' Meara "Neo-Liberalism and Globalization," pp. 282-286.
Monday, March 3
Industrial Revolution, Karl Marx, Money, and Trade
Film Screening at 8pm Mr. Johnson
Tuesday, March 4
Film Screening at 7pm Mr. Johnson
Wednesday, March 5
Colonialism and Neo-colonialism
Roundtable # 1 on Mr. Johnson
Visit the NAFTA website.
Mapping exercise #2 is due on Monday, March 10.
Monday March 10
Case Studies: Maquiladora by Guest Lecturer Professor Diana Barnes
Think Piece #1 is due on Wednesday, March 12.
Wednesday March 12
Faculty Debate: Should the EU grant membership to Turkey?
Think Piece # 1 due
Relax and refresh yourselves.
Monday March 17-19 - Spring Break
Have a good and safe holiday.
Study Maps 8, 9, 10, 18, 19.
Part Three: The Cultural World
Monday, March 24
What makes a culture a culture?
Key Concepts for the Cultural World
Read selected Grimm's Children and House Tales.
Lesen Sie eine Auswahl aus den Kinder- und Hausmärchen von den Brüdern Grimm.
Wednesday, March 26
What does it mean to be a German?
Read in O'Meara "The Clash of Civilizations?" pp.3-22 and "Jihad vs. McWorld," pp. 23-33.
Monday, March 31
Clash of civilizations?
Film screening on No Man's Land at 8pm in Ladd 307
Tuesday, April 2
Film screening on No Man's Land at 7pm in Ladd 206
Wednesday, April 2
Roundtable # 2 on No Man's Land
Read Mingst, Chapter 7: War and Strife, pp. 152-181.
Study Maps 8, 9, 17, 21, 22, 23, 25 and table D.
Mapping Exercise # 3 is due on Monday, April 7.
Monday, April 7
Student Debate # 2: Can Israel and Palestine's territorial claims be reconciled within the next decade?
Mapping Exercise # 3 due
Read O'Meara, Part 10, "Four Faces of Global Culture," pp. 419-427; "In Praise of Cultural Imperialism?" pp. 443-453; and "Culture Wars," pp. 454-460.
Visit the web sites for Al-Jazeera. Note: hackers have recently closed these sites, so you may not have luck.
Wednesday April 9
Student Debate # 3: Is Al-Jazeera a positive development for the free press?
Part Four: The Physical World
Monday, April 14
Quiz #2 (40 minutes)
New Technologies and Culture in the Twenty-First-Century
Key Concepts for the Physical World
Read Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel, Chapters 7 and 8, 114-156.
Wednesday, April 16
Introduction to the Environment
Earth
The Roots of Agriculture
Read Mingst, Chapter 10, Globalizing Issues, pp.251-265.
Read in O'Meara, Part 9, "Growth and the Environment," pp. 377-382.
Visit the web sites for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the World Watch Institute
Monday, April 21
Air
Climate Change with Guest Lecturer Professor Judy Halstead
Read in O'Meara, Part 9, "A Special Moment in History," pp. 383-405.
Visit the web site for the Detroit Project and watch the ads Talking Heads and George.
Writing Assignment: What consequences do your personal choices have on energy consumption and energy policy?
Wednesday, April 23
The Detroit Project
Read in O'Meara, Part 9, "The Exploding Cities of the Developing World," pp. 406-415.
Visit the web site for International Rivers Network.
Monday, April 28
Debate #4: Is the Three Gorges Dam a positive development for China?
Read Mingst, Chapter 10, "Human Rights" pp.265-279.
Look for a great job in International Affairs.
Final Exam is on Wednesday, May 7 at 6-9pm in LADD 307
Send comments or suggestions to Mary-Beth O'Brien, Ph.D.
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